Here’s what you’ll find in this issue:

• Self-taught: The Fast Track

• College: The Traditional Route (My option)

• Bootcamps: The Middle Ground

• What Really Matters: Your Portfolio

• Making Your Choice

• The Truth About Learning

College or Self-taught for Software Development?

Breaking Down Your Path to Becoming a Web Developer in 2024

In 2024, aspiring web developers face a crucial decision: college, self-taught, or bootcamp? With tech giants like Google and Apple dropping degree requirements, and bootcamps promising six-figure salaries in months, choosing your path has never been more complex—or more important.

The journey to becoming a web developer has never had more options. Let's break down the three main routes to becoming a web developer, focusing on what really matters: learning the skills and landing a job.

Before jumping in, I want to share this statistic. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average of a software developer is around $130,160 per year. If you haven’t made up your mind, I hope this number will help you to start coding.

Self-taught: The Fast Track

Think of self-taught learning as choosing your own adventure. You pick what to learn, when to learn it, and how deep it is to go. The best part? It's mostly free.

The typical self-taught journey looks like this:

1. Learn HTML (the structure)

2. Master CSS (the design)

3. Study JavaScript (the functionality)

This path typically takes 3-6 months of dedicated learning. You'll need discipline and self-motivation, but the flexibility is unmatched. Many successful developers started this way, learning through:

• Free resources like freeCodeCamp and MDN Web Docs

• Affordable platforms like Udemy ($15-20 per course)

• YouTube tutorials and coding challenges

• Building personal projects

Pros:

• Free or low-cost

• Learn at your own pace

• Focus only on what you need

• Quick career transition possible

Cons:

• Requires strong self-discipline

• No structured guidance

• Can be overwhelming

• Harder to network

College: The Traditional Route (My option)

I chose college because I wanted more than just coding skills – I wanted the full experience. A computer science degree gives you something unique: deep understanding. And it was a personal goal to get a college degree.

Here's what college really offers:

• Strong theoretical foundation

• Structured learning environment

• Network of peers and mentors

• Internship opportunities

According to the 2024 Stack Overflow Survey, 66% of developers have a BA/BS or MA/MS degree. If my math is right that’s more than half the developer world (lol).

However, on that same Survey, 82% of developers are learning online.

The reality of college is that you're still teaching yourself. Professors guide you, but you're the one reading textbooks at 2 AM, debugging code, and diving into topics that interest you.

Pros:

• Comprehensive education

• Strong professional network

• Better understanding of fundamentals

• Clear career path

Cons:

• Expensive (potentially significant debt)

• It takes 3-4 years

• Some outdated curriculums

• Not all learning is practical

Bootcamps: The Middle Ground

Bootcamps bridge the gap between self-taught and college paths. Think of them as coding sprint races – intense, focused, and quick.

Modern bootcamps offer:

• 3-6 months of intensive training

• Real-world project experience

• Career services and job placement

• Industry-current technologies

Pros:

• Faster than college

• More structured than self-taught

• Career support included

• Modern curriculum

Cons:

• Moderate cost ($10,000-20,000)

• Intense commitment

• Quality varies widely

• Less theoretical knowledge

What Really Matters: Your Portfolio

Regardless of your path, what employers care about most is what you can build. Your portfolio shows your skills in action. Include:

• Real-world projects

• Code samples

• Problem-solving examples

• Documentation of your work

Making Your Choice

Consider these factors:

1. Time: Have 3-4 years, or need a quick career change?

2. Money: Can you afford college, or need a budget option?

3. Learning Style: Need structure, or prefer self-paced learning?

4. Goals: Want broad knowledge, or focused web dev skills?

The Truth About Learning

Whether you choose college, self-taught, or bootcamp, remember this: all programming education is ultimately self-taught. The difference is the environment and support system around you.

And even after completing one of these, you’ll realize that no matter what, you will be still learning years after completion.

Success in web development comes down to:

• Consistent practice

• Building real projects

• Networking with other developers

• Never stopping learning

• Creating a strong portfolio

Choose the path that matches your goals, learning style, and life situation.

I chose college because it aligned with my personal goals, but I've worked with excellent developers from all three paths.

Your success depends less on which path you choose and more on how dedicated you are to learning and building real things.

Pick your path, start building, and keep learning.

Best,

Adrian!